Autumnal Equinox to Mark the Beginning of Fall on Sept. 22

September 22 is the official first day of Autumn, referred to as fall by most Americans because this is the time when the leaves fall to the ground.

Did you know that fall is celebrated on the fall equinox, one of only two days in the year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator? (The celestial equator is an imaginary line above the true equator of the Earth). This crossing marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. According to EarthSky.com, the September equinox is a great time to locate due east and due west from your own home. Sky watchers can observe the sun's location on the horizon at sunrise or sunset with respect to familiar landmarks and then use those landmarks to navigate in various directions in the future.

Now I don’t know what exactly all that means but I do know this, fall for me means cooler weather and my favorite jeans, piles of leaves to jump in and football season heating up. I love to take a drive to North Georgia and see the leaves as they change and my family loves the festivals and outdoor activities that seem to abound during the fall season.

Here in Georgia a favorite pastime of many residents appears to be watching the leaves change color and did you know all the information you need to catch peak leaf season is right at your fingertips? Check out the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Leaf Watch 2012, for up to date information on peak times to view the fall foliage across Georgia. Updates to the website are expected to hit on October 1, 2012.

What's your favorite thing about fall? Are you looking forward to cooler weather? Tell us in the comments.